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Even if your health is the only thing on your mind after a cancer diagnosis, the reality of bills, bills, bills soon becomes apparent. Even with health insurance, you could be paying for some portion of your cancer treatment, depending on your deductible and co-pays.

Insurance and Cancer: Your Finances

Cancer affects your life in many ways, including your budget and bank account. Here are some possible financial concerns that you may need to account for:

Lost wages. Household bills and extra medical expenses may seem manageable when you've got a regular paycheck coming in. But cancer patients probably will need to take some time off from work to undergo treatment and recovery — you may even need to leave your job. Your spouse or partner may need to miss work to accompany you to doctor's visits and treatment appointments and to stay home to take care of you during your recuperation. You may need to re-budget to account for smaller paychecks for both of you — at least temporarily — during your cancer treatment and recovery.

Travel expenses. If the best cancer specialist or treatment center for you is out of town, your travel expenses may add up quickly. Airfare or gas and car expenses, food, and lodging can get pricey if you need to be away for weeks at a time. That's not to say that the care isn't worth the cost, just that you’ll need to budget for it.

Extra needs. If your caregiver goes back to work, you may need to hire home care aides to help with meals, dressing, bathing, or just tidying the house. This can mean another cost for you, although some insurance plans may cover some of these expenses.

Insurance and Cancer: Learn About Its Limitations

The major factor regarding paying for cancer care is the amount of coverage your health insurance provides. Just having health insurance doesn’t mean all your medical bills will be covered.

While many health insurance plans can deflect much of the burden of paying for cancer care and treatment, you may still have your fair share of the costs. Here are some expenses you may be responsible for, even with insurance:

Drugs that aren't on your formulary or that cost more than your usual prescriptions

High deductible costs

Out-of-network cancer care costs, which usually have a different deductible that must be met

Any pre-existing condition limitations on your treatment

Any treatments or procedures not covered by your plan

Any costs that exceed your lifetime maximum, if your cancer treatment is ongoing and very expensive

If you are among the over 40 million uninsured people in the United States, your financial burden will be even greater. But you may be able to find ways to get the care you need without accruing mountains of debt.

Cancer Care: Finding Help to Pay for It

Many organizations and foundations can help you find financial assistance for paying for your cancer care. The National Cancer Institute is a great resource for cancer patients. Others include:

Don't let financial concerns interfere with your need for first-rate cancer treatment. To prevent them from taking an additional toll on you, enlist a friend or family member to help you navigate the system and find a way to fund your health care needs.